For information contact
Nikki Schmidt
at 865-789-9505
Office: 865-560-2290
Fax: 865-560-5520

Excellence Award

The winner is Renaissance II. This project is the first housing to be completed following the creation of the Fort Sanders neighborhood conservation district. The owner, Vedat Aboush, and his architect, Michael Price, worked with representatives of the Historic Zoning Commission to create a three-story condominium complex that complements the Victorian-era houses of Highland Avenue. The architecture is a vast improvement over the typical Fort Sanders apartment designs of earlier eras. As a neighborhood conservation district, design guidelines must be followed so that new construction blends with historic buildings, and Renaissance II accomplishes that goal in fine fashion. Turrets and bay windows are much like the houses of yesteryear, and porches extend toward the sidewalk, providing a chance for residents to chat with their neighbors. In addition to the attractive housing, magnolia and maple trees were conserved along the avenue. The commission recognizes this project as a model of what can be accomplished with design guidelines in neighborhood conservation districts.